Air cleaner



Jan. 31, 1933.

C. H. GAGEN AIR CLEANER Original Filed March 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l ALftorney C. H. GAGEN AIR CLEANER m n e UA 5 IH. n.. m w A a. H m M c Atomey Y C. H. GAGEN Jan. 31, 1933 AIR CLEANER Grignal Filed March 28,1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wcm.. G m @vm .Hm

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Attorney Patented Jan. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES H.GAGEN, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO AMERICAN AIR FILTER COMPANY, INC., OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A. COB- iPORATION OF DELAWARE AIR CLEANER Application led March 28, 1927, SerialNo. 179,128. Renewed January` 16, 1931.

This invention relates to air cleaners of the class utilizing an oiledsurface over `which the air to be cleaned is caused to pass. Thus.substantially all dirt, dustand lint is removed 5 from the air byadhering to the oiled surfaces. To maintain the desired efficiency ofsuch air cleaners, it is necessary7 from time to time to remove the dirtcollected by the cleaner.

The most usual method for this operation with air cleaners used atpresent is to remove the stationary box-like cleaners from position andwash them by hand in hot water and soda. Another Way used at'present isto give the cleaning surface a slowly continuous motion through a bathof oil. Still other processes used for cleaning are: To cause adrum-like structure to rotate continuously and sprinkle or spray oilthrough the air cleaning element; to pump oil to the top of the cleaningdevice and permit it to How down the surfaces of the cleaning element,etc. All these structures necessitate driving mechanisms, includinggearing adapted to bring about a great reduction in speed,and acomparatively costly construction of the cleaning elements.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an air cleaningdevice equal or even superior in eiiiciency to the above mentioned priortypes of devices, and utilizing the same efficient cleaning principle,but avoiding the necessity of being continuously driven, and the othercostly arrangements of the prior devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air cleaning device ofsimpli-ed and improved construction, and which is efficient and reliablein operation to a high degree.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air cleaning devicewhich is adapted to be inserted into an air duct and Vwhich shall beparticularly adapted to effectively cleanse the air passingtherethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described, which shall permit of a rapid and convenientcleansing` of the parts thereof to remove accumulation of forei nsubstances.

A still further ob3ect is to provide a device device in a manner whichis somewhat out of proportion, the parts being relatively large andheavy compared with the size of the whole device shown, this for thesake of clearness in details.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of the device, taken on line l-l of Fig.2.

. F ig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l, and showingthedevice embodied 1n an air duct or passage, with parts being omitted.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a locking mechanism,with parts omitted.

Fig. 5 is a det-ail view of a member that serves to provide forair-tightness in the device, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the side guide andsealing devices.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 is a frame em odying themechanism constituting the invention, said frame being adapted for rapidand inexpensive manufacture on a large scale, and consisting therefore,of sheet metal plates andl standard structural elements, such as augltsor the like. The frame 10 is adapted for insertion and mounting directlyin an air duct 1l, shown here as of sheet metal `construction Figs. 2and 3), so that the invention is utilizable for purifying and cleaningall of the air passing through said duct, as indicated by the arrows11a.

More. specifically, said frame consists of vertical corner angles l2,and horizontal connecting an les 13 forming a rectangular structure.isposed in the sides of said frame are open boxes 14 (Fig. 3) made ofsheet metal and within which is housed the mechanism for operating theair cleaning screens or filters 15.

To obtain the maximum efliciency in the cleansing of air, or other gas,the screen structure is provided with a large number of closely spacedvert-ical plates 16. The plates are of irregular formation to provide amaximum surface for contact with the air, and preferably each of theplates has a plurality of bends formin alternate angles extendinglongitudinally o the plate. The air flowing through between said platesis thus caused to make a plurality of changes in direction.

The plates are coated with a suitable viscous fluid, such as oil, orcthelike, whereby any particles of foreign matter or dust in the passing airis efficiently impinged or caught. The irregular flow of the air betweenthe plates insures of a mixing action of the air so that all of the dusttherein will be removed by the oil coated screen.

A periodical washing of the screen structure is necessary to remove theaccumulation of dirt thereon, as mentioned hereinbefore,

the plates being then coated with clean oil, and the air cleansingoperation resumed. According to this invention, an improved arrangementis provided for novel coaction in the means for cleaning the screenstructure and for coating the same with oil or other liquids.

Specifically, an oil tank 17 is arranged in the base of the frame andbelow the screen structure. For economy of space, the latter isconstructed of a plurality of filter units or sections S, disposed inadjacent vertical planes, so that the filter or screen structure, nomatter how high it extends when the filter units are in extendedrelation, can be wholly received within the oil tank when said structureis collapsed, said sections being then disposed in side by side relationin the tank. In this way, the plates of the screen or filter units arereadily cleaned and coated with. oil or other liquids.

Each of the sections S consists of the plates 16, disposed between thevertical side frames 18 at the side edges of said sections, saidsections being strongly bound into unitary structure by tie-'rods 18aextending transversely of said sections and passing directly throughplates 16. Each of the structures thus provided is evenly balanced. Theplates 16 are spaced apart by any suitable means such as washers on thetie rods or projections on the lates and, this being conventional, hasnot geen shown. A suitable number of vertical flat bars 19 are provided,spaced apart, on the front and rear sides of the sections S for apurpose to be described hereinafter. Said bars 19 are inset in thesections and are bound together by the through brackets 20.

The sections S have detachable engagement with one another by means ofhooks 21 formed at the lower ends of the front bars 19 to engage inrecesses 22 made in companion rear bars 19 modified as shown at 19a.Thus, when the uppermost of the sections S is raised by liftingmechanism soon to be described, its hooks engage the middle section, andthose of the middle section engage in turn the third section, after apredetermined movement so that a completely elevated screen ispresented. Similarly, when the sections are lowered into the oil tank,the hooks 21 will automatically disengage and permit said sections to bedisposed in side by side relation.

'lhe lifting mechanism comprises a plurality of cable drulns 23 fixed ona horizontal shaft or drum 24 journaled in the frame 10 above the screenstructure. Cables 25 are secured to the drums and Wound thereon, eachcable being connected to the upper screen section at the lifting bars 19thereof by any suitable standard means. The shaft or drum 24 can berotated by any suitable power means, or manually, as by a continuouschain 26 at the side of the frame 10, having engagement with a sheavewheel 27 connected by its shaft 28 with a pinion 29, which in turnmeshes with a gear 30 having a fixed coaxial pinion 31 that meshes withgear 32 on shaft 24. In this way, by pulling on chain 26 on the properside thereof, the screen structure, through cables 25 and hooks 21described hereinbefore, can be raised into operative position, orlowered and collapsed into the oil tank. Any convenient brake mechanismmay be incorporated into the lifting device in a manner and for purposeswell known in the art.

The invention provides means to 4permit the screens S to be raised orlowered with the maximum ease, and with the least wear or strain on themachine, while at the same time providing for tightness in the severalparts when the air cleansing device is in operation, so as to insurethat practically all of the air will pass through the screens. Thus, cammembers 33, 34, 35 and 36 are provided to coact respectively with theupper, middle and lower screens at the bars 19 so as to press thescreens together at their meeting horizontal portions, which areprovided with felt strips 37 or other suitable material, for absoluteair tightness (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). Said cam members are secured tohorizontal shafts 38 which are disposed adjacent to the upper and loweredges of the screen sections S. The shafts are journaled in brackets 39which are supported on vertical frame members 40. Each of said shafts isconnected by a pair of meshing bevel -gears 41 and 42 to a Verticaldrive shaft 43 journaled at a side of the frame in brackets 44. Thelowermost rocker shaft 38 has a handwheel 45 arranged exteriorly of theframe 10, so that on rotation of the handwheel, and through the actionof bevel gears 55 and 56 on said lowermost shaft 38 and on shaft 43, asshown, all of the rockervshafts 38 will be turned through a suitableangle to bring the canis to bear against the bars 19 on the screens S,the latter being elevated into o erative position, so as to provide forthe air-tight engagement of the screens in a lateral direction, asaforesaid. When it is desired to lower the screens into the oil tank,the handwheel is turned in an opposite direction to release the cams, sothat the screens S can be lowered with a minimum of friction.

A ratchet wheel 46 and a pawl 47 are provided to lock the cam mechanismin a desired position. A plate 48 at the top of the frame on a side ofthe screen opposite to cams 33 permits of air-tight engagement.Likewise, any suitable means may be provided at the lower part of theframe opposite to cams 36 to coact with the lowerniost screen, such asplate 49 which may be arranged in front o f the screen hinged to the topof the covered oil tank and normally urged into a loose open position bya .spring thus serving to complete the seal at the bottom of thelowermost screen and still permitting an unobstructed lowering of itwhen so desired.

The screen sections S may be slidable in vertical guide and sealinggrooves 50 tightly adjacent to box structures 14, said grooves 50 beingformed for the several screen sect. ons by vertical members 50a. Vheneach of the screen sections has been elevated into its predeterminedposition for normal operation of the air cleaning device, and the camsaforesaid are brought to bear on the screens, cooperating means operatedfrom one of the shafts 38 may be actuated to afford engagement at theside edges of the screens. highly efficient structure can be made byproviding vertical laterally movable locking bars 51 at the positions ofelevation of the various screen sections, as will be understood fromFig. 3. Each of the bars 51 is mounted on arms 51a which are pivotallyengaged with arms 52 that are secured to a vertical rocker shaft 53journaled in brackets 54. A bevel gear 55 secured to shaft 53 mesheswith a bevel gear 56 on the lowermost horizontal shaft 38 so as to causea simultaneous operation of the cams and the bars 51 on rotation ofhandwheel 45. The opposite vertical sides of the screens are providedwith similar sealing means and shaft 43 may be used for the operationthereof, taking the role of shafts i 53, just described.

The vertical side frames or bais of each screen section are formed withcentral vertical grooves 57 to receive bars 51. Bars 51 may be slidablein a box structure comprising vertical plates 58 forming guides betweenwhich bars 51 are laterally movable. Reinforcing plates 59 are arrangedfor the guide in Fig. 2. The portions of boxes 50 which are` 1 not usedfor guiding the screen sections S in their movements are preferablyformed as flat plates, as indicated at. 505, while those parts of thesame which are in the paths of the movements of the screens may be.pro-- vided with vertical central guide wedges 51?),

similar in shape to bars51 on which the frames 18 may loosely and easilyslide. Simplification of this construction may beprovided for byomitting either such central guide wedges 515 or the vertical separatingguides 50a. Nuts 63 for the tie rods 18a may be disposed in recesses inthe screen bars or frame 18, in any suitable manner, and so as to beclear of the locking bars 51. The rods 51a will be understood to be ofvarying lengths to correspond to the distance of the respective lockingbars from shafts 53, and the length of arms 52 will vary accordingly. Asufficient clearance may be provided in the grooves within which thelocking bars are movable to permit of easy sliding movement thereof,irrespective of the angular positions of arms 52, inasmuch as the angleof movement thereof is small. However, after being interlocked, asuilicient pressure will be sides thereof and secured by screws 65, asshown in Fig. 5, and this combined with the A cushioning felt strips 64extending along the wedge formation of the bars 51, will permit oftightness under any circumstances.` However, I want to remark that thecams afore` said may be sufficient to provide for air-tightness ofthescreens S all around their perimeters without any side bars 51, and suchside sealing bars may possibly be entirely omitted with all theiroperating mechanism, thereby greatly simplifying the actual embodimentof the invention.

The cleansing of the screens is expedited by providing a movablecontainer or basket 65 in the oil tank to receive the screens, said'container having perforations 66 in the bottom thereof .to permit ofcirculation of the oil when the container is moved. The front and backof said basket may also he eliminated and its end plates erforated forthe said purpose. More speci cally, basket 65 is operated by racks 67 atthe ends thereof, meshing with pinions 68 on shafts 69 j ournaled infixed brackets 70. Bevel gears 71 are secured to shafts 69, and meshwith bevel gears 72 on a shaft 73 extending across the frame and throughboxes 14 wherein the gears are housed. A crank handle 74 is rotated backand forth to alternately raise and lower the container 65, with thecollapsed screen structure therein separated, bars 75 extending downwardthrough perforations in the bottom of said container from the screenguide construction 50 described hereinbefore, to act as skeleton guidesfor the container and the screens therein when lowered. Skeleton guides75 may rest on iron bars 75a. A rapid circulation of the oil throughopenings 66 and between the vertical plates of the screens will thus beobtained t0 effectively wash accumulations of dirt and foreign matterfrom the plates. The oil may then be drawn off, when desired, through avalve 76 in the bottom of the oil tank, and replaced by clean oil forfurther washing and for new oil coatings of the screen plates. A pawland ratchet wheelindicated at 7 7, may lock shaft 73 in one directionagainst unintended movement under the weight of the screens.

The machine can be arranged to be operated wholly from outside of duct11, as may best be seen from Fig. 3, and a suitable door may be placedin a wall of the duct adjacent to and in front of the machine to permitan operator to enter and inspect the machine from time to time.

It is thus seen that an air-cleansing device has been -provided which ishighly suitable to effectuate the objects of the invention, and which ispractical and eflicient. It may be built into an air duct and provide anairtight frame therein, leaving the air free travel only through thedescribed oil coated screens to clean and purify the same. On the otherhand, the elements of the improved filter can be loosened and droppedinto the base oil (ank with a few easy movements and operations and thenthoroughly washed therein, as described.

I also again want to emphasize that while the herein describedconstruction is a preferred embodiment of my invention, changes andvariations may, however, be resorted to in the de ail construction ofthe parts, or in the combinations and sub-combinations thereof, withinthe spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims hereinafter tofollow.

I claim;

1. In a device' of the character described, the combination of a fluidcontainer, a receptacle in said container having openings in its walls acollapsible air screen, means to collapse said screen and to lower thesame into said receptacle, and means to move about the receptacle in thefluid container for effective cleansing of the screen byfluid currents.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of an airscreen having a plurality of sections, means engaging one of thesections to raise or lower the same, and means on said section todetachably engage another section to lift the same when the firstmentioned section is raised, and to release the same when the firstmentioned section is lowered.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a screenhaving a plurality of sections disposed in adjacent planes andoverlapping one another, and means to press said sections into closeengagement with one another.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a screen,means to movably supportthe screen, a frame to slidably receive thescreen, and wedge means movable in the frame to engage the screen, saidscreen having a groove to receive said wedge.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of an airscreen composed of sections, means to collapse said screen by movingsaid sections into side by side relation to one another, a fluidcontainer to receive said sections when collapsed, and means tocirculate a fluid medium through said sections and said fluid container.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of an airscreen consisting of a plurality of sections disposed in adjacentplanes, a frame structure with channels to guide said sections, andmeans to press the respective edges of any section into airtightengagement with the adjacent edge ofthe section above and with saidframe.

7. In a device of the character described, a screen structure comprisingsuperposed sections in adjacent relation, means to collapse saidsections into side by side relation, and means to secure a substantiallyair-tight connection between the respective adjacent portions of theindividual sections when the same are in operative position.

8. In an air screen, superposed individual sections in adjacent planes,guide means for said sections, and means to lower said sections in saidguide means into side by side relation with one another. or to raisethem into operative position.

9. In an air filter, the combination of a plurality of filter unitsmounted to be moved into side-by-side relation to each other, means formoving said units directly to extended position with one unit inedge-to-edge relation with another unit.

10. In an air filter. the combination of a plurality of filter unitsmounted to be moved intoside-by-side relation to each other, means formoving said units directly to extended position with one unit inedge-to-edge relation with another unit, and means for exposing saidunits while in side-by-side relation to a bath of fluid.

11. In an air filter, the combination of a frame, guide channelstherein, a plurality of filter units mounted to be moved in saidchannels into side-byside relation to each other, and means for movingsaid units to extended osition with one unit in edge-toedge relat1onwith another unit.

5 12. In an air filter, the combination of a pluralit of lter unitsmounted to be moved into si e-by-side relation to each other, areceptacle positioned and adapted to receive said units when the latterare in said side-byside relation, and means for moving said units toextended position with one unit in edge-to-ed relation with anotherunit.

13. Air lter apparatus comprising a series of lter units mounted inltering position with the end of one unit adjacent to the end of anotherunit, means for collapsing said units to side by side relation, andmeans for cleaning said collapsed units.

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New York, this 19th dayof Marel.`

CHARLES H. GAGEN.

